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I am very proud to announce the debut of The Wonder of Tech at The Philadelphia Inquirer. The Wonder of Tech will be appearing as a weekly personal technology column in the Thursday newspaper and on the website at philly.com. Please check out my first column that was published today: The Wonder of Tech in the Philadelphia Inquirer.
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Expectations were sky-high for the long-awaited iPhone 5. Rumors about its exciting new features were so frequent and fervent that the iPhone 5 became the Holy Grail of the cell phone world.
But the iPhone 5 was not to be. At least not in 2011. The phone announced by Apple this week is not called the iPhone 5, but the iPhone 4S. The new phone looks exactly the same as last year’s iPhone 4 so you should skip it, right? Just pass it by and wait for a newly designed iPhone 5 next year?
Not exactly. You should crave the iPhone 4S and here’s why:
64GB capacity – If you’re struggling to manage your collection of music, photos, apps, video, audiobooks, podcasts and ebooks on your phone, you can finally have enough space for your collection with a 64GB iPhone 4S.
Dual-Core A5 Chip – If you have a Need for Speed, you’ll love the processing speed of the iPhone 4S. It’s two times as fast, and handles graphics seven times as fast, as the iPhone 4, meaning the iPhone 4S operates at a whippet pace.
Awesome Camera – Need a new camera? Get a new iPhone instead. For less than you might spend on a quality camera, you can get an awesome camera with an iPhone attached! You’ll need only one device and have it handy wherever you go.
World Phone – Have you always wanted an iPhone on Verizon or Sprint but travel internationally so you were restricted to AT&T? The iPhone 4S is a world phone so you can use it on Verizon or Sprint and in other countries around the world. You can choose your preferred carrier without having to worry that you’ll be stranded if you travel outside the US.
Voice Command/Siri – The ability to use an iPhone as your virtual assistant may be the coolest innovation Apple has ever developed for a phone. If you’re ever tempted to prove to your buddy that your iPhone is the latest model, you can ask Siri: “How can I impress this person and convince them that I’m holding a very cool iPhone 4S?”
Siri: “I believe you just did.”
Unlimited Data on Sprint – If you missed out on unlimited data plans on Verizon and AT&T but want to use the Internet to the max when you’re away from Wi-Fi, grab the iPhone on Sprint with its unlimited data plan.
Infinity Blade 2 – If you’re addicted to the popular game Infinity Blade and must have Infinity Blade 2 with two, count ‘em, two swords, the only way to play it is to get an iPhone 4S. You have to pay to play.
If you simply can’t wait, don’t let the name 4S fool you, now is the time to get your new iPhone.
Here is a great video from Apple shot in 1987 showing a prototype of a voice based assistant called the Knowledge Navigator that seems to predict the Voice Assistant Siri. Check it out and then wonder if we can predict what will be the greatest tech in 2035:
Are you craving the iPhone 4S? Are you excited by all of its new features? Will you be camping outside an Apple Store next week? Let us know in the Comments section below!
Congratulations, Tech Lady!
And congratulations to the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Hi Gramps, Thank you very much! I am truly honored to be in the Inquirer. 🙂
Hi Carolyn,
Well done getting the The Philadelphia Inquirer to publish your blog. I’m reassessing my blog, I want it to be more international and less British and so need some new subjects! I was hoping to go more into personal finance but that doesn’t seem to be working. I’ll keep experimenting! 🙂 I’ll have to do more cooking, at least food is international!
Hi Mike, Thank you very much. I couldn’t be more pleased to be in the Inquirer.
Yes, your recipes on your blog are wonderful. I truly enjoy them. But if you want your blog to be truly international, you may need to translate foods like Bubble and Squeak!
Your blog is great, don’t change it too much. 🙂
What a timely post – on so many levels. That video is nuts, and a great reminder of the extent to which Apple was (and is) visionary. I was going to hold off on the 4S in anticipation of a 5 down the road, but now you’ve got me thinking….
Hi Ruth, You’re right, that video is amazing, I can’t believe that Apple could predict the future so accurately.
If Apple takes another 15 months to launch its next iPhone, there won’t be an iPhone 5 until 2013. Except, maybe they won’t call it an iPhone 5, maybe they will call it an iPhone 4Z or something. Who knows what lies in the future for the iPhone?
Thanks so much for your visit and wonderful comment, Ruth!
I am going to buy iPhone 4S since I don’t own the previous version. This update brings handful of features I expected iPhone to have! 🙂
Hi Saksham, Welcome to The Wonder of Tech! Yes, the iPhone 4S will have very exciting features. If it’s your first iPhone you will be amazed at all it can do!
Congrats on the column. That’s some serious exposure and a testimony to the work you do.
All I’ve heard were grumblings about the 4s but I don’t know what that’s about. Looks like a good phone to me.
Thanks for sharing,
Bryce
Hi Bryce, Thank you so much. I am thrilled to have The Wonder of Tech published in the Inquirer on Thursdays. It truly is an honor.
I honestly think the iPhone 4S is a great phone with fantastic software. I think that people’s expectations were way too high and the phone has an unfortunate name. If the lines aren’t very long next Friday, better for those who are very excited for the phone!
Thanks for your visit and kind comment, Bryce.
I have to respectfully disagree.
This was an underwhelming release and every stock holder, advocate, analyst and tech blogger (until you) agrees on why.
A few years ago when Apple was the only one making touch screen phones with apps it was ok to speed it up a little – upgrade the guts and send it out to the blind and option-less masses. We no longer live in that world. In (late) 2011 there are literally a dozen phones with more to offer. 1.5ghz possessors, 3D cameras, 4.65″ screens, curved glass, uni-bodies, LTE, NFC etc etc etc. To make the consumer wait an inordinate amount of time (the longest between releases yet) for a phone that falls short of what is already on the market is a big mistake. The smart phone space is highly competitive and extremely fickle. If you think that menial updates will keep you on top you are sadly mistaken. Just ask the likes of RIM, Motorola and Nokia.
Lets break down what took 15 months to achieve:
A5- The chip is “up to” 2 times faster but is the 10 month old iPad chip and as I mentioned is nowhere near top of class.
64gb- Apple is pushing the iCloud which comes on the 4s and holds all music, documents and pics. So more space is a cheap upgrade that isn’t needed. It’s just there to sell the idea that more was packed into the stale frame.
Siri- A fantastic piece of software, not to be confused with hardware. Siri, for those who have done their research, has been around in a dumbed-down version in App World for a long time. Upon announcement of the 4s, App world is removing it from App World and rendering downloaded versions inoperable in desperate attempt to migrate people over to the 4s. So rather than giving people something amazing, they’re taking it away from those who just bought iPhone4’s to coerce them into buying the 4s that outside of Siri has little to offer. This is the equivalent of RIM shutting down BBM for all prior devices to the BB7 line-up in pathetic attempt to force adoption. This sort of tied-selling should be illegal.
8mp Camera- Well done. I have nothing bad to say about this upgrade. It is a feat of engineering to fit that complex of hardware into such a small frame.
Conclusion: It took a year and a half to add a better camera and add a faster chip. But don’t take my world for it, take Tim Cooks. “The best iPhone yet”, says it all. Notice, for the first time in 30 years, the lack of confidence. Not “the best smart phone” (like when they introduced the iPad as the most advanced tablet ever made), the best iPhone. Which it should be. It’s the new one. If Pontiac puts a new engine in a Sunfire they can call it the best Sunfire yet, that doesn’t make a Maserati.
I love Apple and love the iPhone. I am not biased in anyway. I truly feel this is a blemish on a stellar track record of being the best. All I can say is Siri better be able to do my dishes by the time iPhone5 comes out or the smart phone war will leave Apple back at the tent peeling potatoes.
This is my two cents. On the upside (and I’m not trying to be a jerk, I honestly would like to know if there was an incentive involved), I hope you enjoy your free iPhone4s for this article because it’s so slanted and unconvincing that there is no other possible conclusion.
Hi Dustin, Welcome to The Wonder of Tech. I can understand your disappointment, you are certainly not alone in expecting more than the iPhone 4S delivers. But I also am not alone in being excited for the launch of the iPhone 4S, within and outside of the tech community.
I will address your issues point by point, but I want to address the last one first. I do not receive any compensation from Apple for writing my blog and I certainly have not received, and do not expect to receive any iPhones for writing my blog posts. Occasionally, app developers will send me promo codes so I can review their apps, but I reveal when that is the case.
If I ever were fortunate enough to receive free hardware, from Apple or any other manufacturer, I would definitely reveal that in my blog.
I do not have any advertising on my blog and receive no compensation for writing this blog.
So no incentive is involved. I wrote this article based upon my beliefs.
On to your other points. I agree with you, I am confounded by the delay. Apple had adhered to a regular release schedule for the iPhones since its introduction. Why it diverged from that schedule is a mystery, answered only by speculation, not by an explanation from Apple. But the delay does not speak to how desirable the iPhone is.
Yes, there are more powerful and faster phones being sold. There are phones capable of displaying 3D images, connecting with LTE networks and using NFC technology. But most of those capabilities either have not been widely adopted and/or come at the expense of battery life.
Is Apple missing the boat by not offering these features on the iPhone 4S? That remains to be seen. If the iPhone 4S outsells the phones offering those features, then Apple guessed correctly. But I’m thinking that Apple bet that the general public doesn’t consider these to be essential or even necessarily desirable features for the next iPhone.
64GB capacity. I, for one, have been craving this feature since I traded my 64GB iPod Touch for an iPhone, over 2 years ago. I keep a lot of apps, photos, music, videos, audiobooks and podcasts on my phone. I constantly have to manage my content so my phone doesn’t get over loaded. I have a 64 GB iPad and never have to thing about space.
I’m not a big fan of the Cloud, iCloud or otherwise. I want my content on my phone so I’m not dependent upon an internet connection to access it.
I had not heard that the Siri app would be disabled on iOS devices other than the iPhone 4S. While we may both disagree with Apple’s marketing tactics if that is the case, that does not diminish the desirability of the iPhone 4S.
Time will tell whether Apple’s delayed launch of the 4S and their decision not to load it with other features was the correct call. But I honestly believe there is a lot to be excited about with the iPhone 4S.
Thank you, Dustin, for your visit and for taking the time to leave your thought-provoking comment.
Dustin, I totally understand what you’re saying, but I think you’re missing some vital information here.
All your arguments could be said about the iPad 2 (and actually were said about it). But it’s obvious that it continues to dominate the market. Same for most other Apple products.
The idea that Apple needs to vastly leap ahead of its competitors in hardware specs after every product cycle has never been true; they’ve never played that game.
Also, Apple isn’t targeting existing iPhone 4 users — most of whom are locked into multi year contracts.
Anyway, that’s how I see it. And yes, I was disappointed that the iPhone 5 didn’t debut as well!
Hi Aibal, Welcome to The Wonder of Tech! You have some very interesting points. I wonder how many of the people who use the iPhone 4 will pay the extra to upgrade to the 4S? I read an article this morning by a tech writer who did just that for him and his wife, paying over $800 per phone.
You’re absolutely correct, Apple doesn’t try to leap ahead of its competitors every product cycle, they try for a more integrated experience which is exactly what they are offering with the 4S.
Your comparison of the iPad 2 not being a huge leap from the original iPad is interesting as well, though no major competition to the iPad was on the market in March when the iPad 2 was launched. If the Kindle Fire turns out to be a serious competitor to the iPad, then the launch of the next iPad by Apple will have more pressure for upgraded features.
Thank you, Aibal, for your visit and insightful comment!
Aibal – I totally agree with your position on this. Apple’s market share continues to grow and as people move to their products they’ll want the newest version, regardless how profound the latest reworks. This makes the updates salable to maybe a less savvy consumer, one who is just adopting an Apple product for the first time or one who finds there old phone inoperable, forcing an early transition than anticipated.
For those who are waiting for something special and for those who buy the hottest new device, willing to upgrade from the iPhone4, it’s not enough (outside of a few niche instances like the one mentioned by Coralyn).
I, for one, do my research. I bought my first Macbook Pro in 2004 when it was very uncool to do so. I have several iPods, an iMac and am typing on a Macbook right now. I am very entwined in the Apple culture. My phone, however, is a Blackberry. Many people out there who have never owned one don’t understand the value of BBM and it’s the sole reason I remained faithful for 6 years. I have an expired contract and anxiously await a new phone.
I was waiting for iPhone5.
I required 2 things to make the switch. A messaging service that rivals BBM and cutting edge, top of class technology that will remain relevant for a minimum of 2 years.
iPhone5 delivered on neither front. iMessage falls miserably short of BBM’s offering, although I applaud the recognition of a missing link in the chain and resulting attempt to patch it. There is a light at the end of the tunnel and I look forward to its evolution. As for technology, it isn’t there. If I pull the trigger on a 1.5 year old phone with a new camera I sentence myself to at least 2 years of inevitable disappointment as the smart phone space passes me buy.
Above all of this, cool factor! Isn’t that what Apple is all about? When I set an iPhone4s on the table at a restaurant, am I going to get ooo’s and ahhhhh’s? Or will it not get a second look as it’s visibly just an iPhone4 that everyone and their dog has? And even if they do recognize it as an iPhone4s will that bring oooo’s and ahhhh’s or “man, you spent $800 on that? Why? Was it worth it?”. Although perception is not something I care about, I was hoping for some wow factor and there are phones out there that have it.
What iPhone4s left this educated consumer is a crossroads. Stick with a great device, or switch to the unknown with upgrades that are wiped out by shortfalls.
Quickly on iPad2 as I feel it’s somewhat of a moot point. iPad2 was a doubling of memory, addition of dual cores, 30% less wieght, 40% less thickness and the addition of front and rear cameras. That’s a lot more upgrades. You also have to keep in mind it took just 11 months, the iPhone took 50% longer. And it was brand new in the tablet space.
As with the iPad2, iPhone4s’s will sell. But not to previous version owners. I don’t know anyone who bought the iPad2 5 months after buying the iPad and I don’t know anyone looking to spend $800 on an improved camera when they just bought an iPhone4. I also don’t see anyone abandoning Android or RIM. These releases are reserved for keeping relatively up to date devices available to the huge number of people that migrate to tablets and smart phones daily. It’s a defensive move which makes sense, but sometimes the best defense is a good offense. It’s iPhone5 that will concur the space, the iphone4 is merely a limp along to keep in the game.
Carolyn – Thanks for the response. I have never commented on your blog and figured, due to the last paragraph, you wouldn’t approve my piece haha.
All of your points are correct here.
I too have a 64gb iPod and convince everyone who is in the market for one to not cheap out and opt for less. That being said iCloud is now here and Apple has a way of forcing their visions of the future upon the masses, slow to adopt or otherwise. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, since 1980 their ability to look into the future far exceeds that of the consumer (or even competitor).
Apple was the first to due away with floppy drives well before the world was ready. The consumer said “why would I buy a computer with less features?”. They were the first to use Firewire, then upgraded to Firewire 400 before PC even heard of it. By the time PCs had Firewire Mac’s had Firewire 800. The new advance is Apple removing optical drives. This has already happened in Macbook Airs and the new Mac Mini. They have plans to do it in the near future for full sized lap tops and desk tops. No burning or reading of disks. No disc based software, movies or games. While everyone thinks Apple is crazy, they are silently migrating everything to the cloud. People will be on it and have no idea how they got there.
As you said, time will tell.
Hi Dustin, Yes, I approved your comment because it wasn’t a spam comment. I welcome opposing points of view and if you’re wondering whether I’m on the take or not, thank you for being brave enough to ask me. If you’re wondering, chances are that others are too and I’m happy to let people know about my principles. All people have to do is ask.
Your comment was obviously well considered. I am thrilled when readers disagree with me because it leads to lively discussions. I actually thought Android phanboys would challenge my opinion.
I didn’t expect Apple to increase the iPhone to 64GB, especially because of the introduction of the iCloud. You’re right, Apple tends to tell us what we want. Who knew we wanted a tablet until Apple told us we did?
Dustin, to question Carolyn’s integrity is just plain wrong.
Carolyn’s reviews and posts are always honest, helpful, gracious, and spot-on.
You owe her an apology.
Cho Cho – I don’t know Carolyn and I have every right to ask if a seemingly slanted position on a product that has received wide spread and unanimously bad reviews, is incentivized. This is the internet and marketing plays a huge role in overwhelming amount of opinion.
Carolyn had a great response and I returned it once more. She didn’t take offense so neither should you. Carolyn, as an experienced blogger, goes into it knowing there will be alternative view points expressed on her blog. That’s why she chose not to moderate it. This is especially prevalent in a post that goes against the grain of the status quo.
We all appreciate you knighting yourself as blog etiquette police, but I assure you if she’s as honest and gracious as you elude to, she will handle my opposing opinion with grace and honesty, which she did, beyond my expectations.
Further to this, I am sure she would prefer her blog comments section be used for the expression of opinions on the related post, not for tangents relating to emotional reactions to the comments themselves.
If you would like to discuss further, please send your apology directly to [email protected]. Otherwise, what do you think of the iPhone4s?
Hi Dustin, I do appreciate cho cho standing up for me. cho cho has been a reader since the early days of the blog.
But you are correct, I do appreciate opposing points of view as that’s what helps us all engage and learn.
I feel absolutely no compulsion to agree with others in the tech community. I write my opinion whether it agrees with others’ opinions or not. I may be wrong, they may be wrong, but I also admit when I’m wrong (see above).
So, Dustin, are you getting the iPhone 4S? 😉
Hi cho cho, Thank you kindly for coming to my defense. I am not troubled by Dustin’s comment. If he, as a new reader, has questions, I want him to ask me, I am happy for readers to disagree with my opinion and I want to hear their opinions too!
I am even fine if it’s a question about taking bribes to write my articles. It’s helpful for new readers to learn about my standards for writing this blog. If you think about it in a positive light, it’s a bit flattering that Dustin thinks Apple would care enough about my opinion to want to bribe me with free iPhones!
But cho cho, I deeply appreciate your kind words about me. I know you’ve been a reader since I began this blog and you have always been wonderfully supportive. You rock, cho cho! 🙂
In a dumb point of view, iPhone is cool and I’m excited about iPhone5. What it could bring and whats its new features that will help me in my business. All I know is when people are talking about iPhone, first thing that comes in my mind is “new technology must-have”. Great insights on your comments section.
Hi John, Welcome to The Wonder of Tech! I disagree, your point of view isn’t dumb at all. People do associate the iPhone with a must-have, cool product, which is one of the reasons it has been so successful over the years.
Thanks for stopping by and leaving your great comment, John!
That’s awesome news Carolyn. Congratulations!!
I will read all your articles, but will you publish them on your blog, or link to them, or at least make it easy for your readers to find them (because I usually don’t read The Philadelphia Inquirer)?
To me, the iPhone 4S looks awesome. I’m definitively going to buy it 🙂
– Jens
Hi Jens, Thank you very much. I am thrilled to have The Wonder of Tech being published by The Philadelphia Inquirer on Thursdays. I will always link to the Inquirer articles here at The Wonder of Tech so you can visit their site. I’m sure the Inquirer will be very happy to gain a new reader. 🙂
Thanks for this quick review. All the tech lovers were waiting keenly for the launch of I-phone 5 but it came as I-phone 4s. Before going to buy, it is nice to read your review.
Hi Susan, You’re right, Apple made two blunders, I think. One was not managing expectations better and the other was not naming the new device the iPhone 5. I hope you are happy with your new phone!
Hi Carolyn,
Congratulations on your new column. That’s great. Your post couldn’t have come at a better time, as I’m planning on buying the new iphone. I am still using my 3G, and I imagine there are very few of us left who haven’t upgraded. 🙂
I can understand some of the previous comments and why people are disappointed about some features, but from your article, it sounds like it’s a worthwhile buy. I don’t think I’ll be pitching a tent outside the Apple store any time soon, but will go buy after the crowds have died down.
Hi Cathy,
Thanks so much. I am very excited to have this opportunity with The Philadelphia Inquirer. I grew up reading that paper, never imagining I would be writing for it someday!
If you are in the US and want to get the iPhone 4S, head into your local Radio Shack to pre-order it for pick up on Friday. That way you can get it on launch day without having to camp out!
I think you’ll be very happy with the upgrade from the iPhone 3G to the 4S.
Congratulations on the Philly job.
I had a good mind to order the 4S but somehow not completely convinced about the new features and their benefits. I think I may end up buying a droidnow.
Hi Praveen, Thank you, I am thrilled to be writing a column for The Philadelphia Inquirer now. I was just watching a show Boardwalk Empire last night that takes place in the 1920’s and they mentioned The Philadelphia Inquirer. Very cool!
You may still want a Droid, but check to see whether you like the iPhone 4S when it comes out on Friday. If you decide you like Android phones better, I can understand that but you may end up liking the iPhone 4S more than you think.
Let us know what you decide! 🙂
I came across the FutureShock video yday (yea, I am little late on this, still catching up), what a phenomenal video! And back in 1987, the video combined a TouchOS + tablet + Siri. That shows the culture of innovation in Apple. We do live in a better place due to their thinking ahead.
Earlier today someone asked on our FB page, about iPhone4S. And I responded them with link to this article, its so well written after all.
Hi iRewardChart, I will have to check out the Future Shock video. Very cool! I think we all might have Future Shock as we begin to play with Siri. I wonder how much I will think it’s cool and how much I will think it’s creepy?
Thank you very much for your kind words and for linking this article, iRewardChart! 🙂